title: Islet alpha cell number is maintained in microencapsulated islet transplantation.
abstract: Islet transplantation can reverse hyperglycaemia in Type 1 diabetes patients. One problem in islet transplantation is a loss of beta cell mass as well as blunted glucagon responses from the grafted islets. It has been suggested that alpha cell loss is associated with close contact of the alpha cells with the implantation organ. In the present study we made use of microencapsulation, where transplanted islets are not in direct contact with the host implantation site. After transplantation, the number of glucagon cells stained per microencapsulated islet section was increased whereas the number of insulin cells stained was decreased. DNA content of the islets was reduced, as was insulin content, whereas glucagon content was unchanged. This indicates that cell number in transplanted microencapsulated islets diminishes, which can be accounted for by loss of beta cells. However, in contrast to previous studies using non-encapsulated islets, alpha cell number seems to be maintained.
authors.affiliation: Department of Medical Cell Biology, Uppsala University, Uppsala, Sweden.
authors.forename: Sara
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Bohman
authors.affiliation: Beta Cell Development and Function Group, Division of Reproduction and Endocrinology, Hodgkin Building 2.4N, Guy's Campus, King's College, London SE1 1UL, UK. Electronic address: aileen.king@kcl.ac.uk.
authors.forename: Aileen J F
authors.initials: AJF
authors.lastname: King
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001786:Blood Glucose; D002214:Capsules; D002452:Cell Count; D004247:DNA / Q000032:analysis; D003921:Diabetes Mellitus, Experimental / Q000097:blood / Q000150:complications / Q000628:therapy*; D003922:Diabetes Mellitus, Type 1 / Q000097:blood / Q000150:complications / Q000628:therapy*; D005934:Glucagon / Q000097:blood; D050416:Glucagon-Secreting Cells / Q000166:cytology*; D006943:Hyperglycemia / Q000097:blood / Q000209:etiology / Q000628:therapy; D007328:Insulin / Q000097:blood; D050417:Insulin-Secreting Cells / Q000166:cytology* / Q000637:transplantation*; D016381:Islets of Langerhans Transplantation / Q000379:methods*; D008297:Male; D051379:Mice; D008807:Mice, Inbred BALB C; D008810:Mice, Inbred C57BL
chemical_list: D001786:Blood Glucose; D002214:Capsules; D007328:Insulin; D004247:DNA; D005934:Glucagon